The Simple Choice Christians Refuse To Make

Practicing Catholicism in America is a labyrinth of conflict and faith.

I am both a Catholic and an American. I believe in the essential American principles, I believe in human rights, gender rights, women’s rights, racial justice, all citizens equal.

I also have tried to abide by my Catholic faith. That’s the greater challenge and I fail constantly. But if there’s any tenet I’ve gotten from my faith, it’s do not judge, do not throw stones, love your neighbor and leave the rest to God.

During the last two decades, following Scripture has not been the issue. Following priests is the issue. Priests made it impossible to go to Mass.

Priests made receiving Communion from their hands feel more like a sacrilege than a humble gesture. Dropping a donation into a collection basket felt more like a legal retainer than supporting good work. I made the wrenching choice to stop going to Mass. The hypocrisy of it all poisoned my practice, not my faith.

When I was much younger, politics were taboo in the Catholic Church. Particularly, in sermons. The church had its agenda, but the bishops took a more subtle route. The reason was straight-forward.

A person’s sin is between themselves and God. Confession was a most private place. Priests were vessels of God’s…